Saloma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yang Berbahagia Puan Sri Datin Amar Saloma KMN (P)
سالوما
Saloma in the 1960s
Born	Salmah binti Ismail (1935-01-22)22 January 1935 Pasir Panjang, Straits Settlements, Singapore
Died	25 April 1983(1983-04-25) (aged 48) Assunta Hospital, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Resting place	Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nationality	Malaysian
Occupation	Singer, actress and model
Years active	1950–1983
Known for	Azimat, Seniman Bujang Lapok, Ahmad Albab
Relatives	Siti Mariam binti Ismail (sister) Aminah binti Ismail (sister) Jasmaniah binti Ismail (sister)

Salmah binti Ismail (born January 22, 1935 – died April 25, 1983), known as Saloma, was a famous Malaysian singer and actress. She was also a fashion icon who became very popular in the late 1950s.

Saloma was known for her beautiful singing voice, which people described as "lemak merdu" (a full, sweet voice). She signed with EMI music records and released many albums. Some of her most popular songs were 'Selamat Pengantin Baru' and 'Bila Larut Malam'.

She also acted in several films. Some of her most famous roles were in Seniman Bujang Lapok (1961) as Cik Salmah, and Ahmad Albab (1968) as Mastura.

In 1978, Saloma was given the special title Biduana Pertama Negara, which means "First National Songbird." This was to honor her great contributions to music in Malaysia. She also received the title Puan Sri in 1990, as she was the wife of the famous artist Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. P. Ramlee.

Saloma's Early Life and Family

Saloma was born on January 22, 1935, in Pasir Panjang, Singapore. Her birth name was Salmah binti Ismail. She was the third of seven children. Her older sister, Siti Mariam binti Ismail, was also an actress. Her younger half-sister, Aminah Ismail (known as Mimi Loma), and another sister, Jasmaniah Ismail, were also singers.

In 1961, Saloma became the third wife of the famous film actor, director, and singer, Tan Sri Datuk Amar P. Ramlee.

From a young age, Saloma loved to sing. She often told her sister Mariani that she wanted to be a singer. When she was just five years old, Saloma was already singing with local street bands. This made her want to become a professional singer even more.

After her parents divorced, Saloma and her sister Mariani moved with their father to Tanjung Karang, Malaysia. They lived with their father and stepmother. During World War II, they helped their father in the rice fields. But they found it hard to live there, so they went back to Singapore by themselves.

Saloma and Mariani then lived with their mother and stepfather, Mum Yusoff. Mum Yusoff was a musician in a local keroncong band called The Singapore Boys. This band played at a club called The New World Cabaret. One night, Saloma's stepfather took her to the cabaret and introduced her to the audience. She was asked to sing the song "Seven Lonely Days" by Georgia Gibbs. Everyone was impressed by her singing. She sang more songs, and this was the start of her career as a singer. She was only 13 years old.

Saloma's Career Journey

Starting Her Career: 1949–1953

Saloma's voice was first heard on local radio. Her stepfather took her to see his orchestra perform on Radio Malaya. The singer Rokiah Hanafi was supposed to sing, but she did not show up. Mum Yusoff asked Saloma to try singing the songs instead. Her performance was a big success! After that, many orchestras in Singapore wanted her to be their main singer. One of her first songs on Radio Malaya was "Sang Rang Bulan."

In 1950, Saloma watched a film called 'Aloha' and fell in love with the main actor, P. Ramlee. At that time, Saloma was almost 16 years old. She dreamed of marrying him one day. P. Ramlee used to walk past Saloma's house in Mount Emily on his way to the studio. A boy selling grass jelly would tell Saloma when P. Ramlee was coming. Saloma would then playfully call out "Banjo" (the character he played) and hide when he looked around.

Salmah (Saloma) during her early film career in the movie Norma.

In the early 1950s, Saloma's dream of becoming a singer took a different path. She started her career as a film actress. Her first film was Pelangi (Rainbow), which was well-liked by audiences. She then acted in two more films: 'Perkahwinan Rahsia' (Secret Wedding) and 'Norma'. In January 1952, she had a small role as a club singer in 'Chinta Murni' (True Love). This was her fourth film.

In April 1952, Saloma married Aman Ramlie, a well-known director and comedian. Their marriage lasted five months, and they divorced in September 1952. Saloma was pregnant at the time.

Her sister Mariam said that Saloma moved back home to live with their mother. After her last film with Nusantara Film Company, Sesal Tak Sudah (Lasting Regret), Saloma ended her contract. She said she needed rest because of her pregnancy and did not want to work with her ex-husband. From late 1952 to 1953, Saloma took a break from performing. In 1953, she gave birth to her only child, a son named Armali Bin Aman Ramlie.

Returning to the Stage: 1954–1960

After traveling to Sarawak and Brunei in July 1954, Saloma was asked by Pathe Company to record her voice. This was strongly supported by Syed Hamid, known as S. Hamid, who was famous at the time. They had met while acting in the film Sesal Tak Sudah.

Saloma's first solo song recorded on vinyl was "Pandang Kasih" (Look of Love). She also sang "Jika Tak Berjumpa" (If We Don't Meet) as a duet with S. Hamid.

In 1955, Saloma accepted an acting role in a film by Studio Jalan Ampas. Her first film with them was Empat Isteri (Four Wives). This film also starred her sister Mariam (as Mariani). That year, Saloma also recorded songs like "Burong Punggok" (The Owl). In February 1956, she replaced actress Siput Sarawak in the film Adekku (My Younger Sibling).

After her success as both a singer and actress, Shaw Brothers studio gave her a more famous stage name. She was named "Saloma" after the film 'Salome', which starred Rita Hayworth. In the same year, Saloma joined Panca Sitara, a band led by P. Ramlee.

Becoming Internationally Known: 1961–1968

Saloma started singing at age seven and became a professional singer as a teenager. Her singing style was similar to famous artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Doris Day. Even though she became an actress, she always said she loved singing more. She improved her singing skills with Orkes Fajar Murni and later with the orchestra Panca Sitara in the 1960s.

Saloma's Music Albums

Here are some of Saloma's "EP" (Extended Play) albums:

• Dendang Saloma (1957)
• Dendang Saloma Album II (1957)
• Dendang Saloma Album III (1959)
• Bunga Negara (1963)
• Saloma (Damak) (1964)
• Lagu-2 Sukaramai China Di Nyanyikan Oleh Saloma (1964)
• Saloma Dan Ahmad Daud (1964)
• Sekalung Sakura Dari Saloma (1965)
• Saloma (Pulau Menghijau) (1965)
• Gadis Langkawi (1966)
• Sudah Kawin Kah Belom/Kenangan Di Padang Kota (Saloma dan Ahmad Daud) (1966)
• Guitar Berbunyi/Bintang Hati (Daripada Filem "Do-Re-Mi") (1966)
• Saloma (Menanti Kanda) (1967)
• Saloma (Aku Dia dan Lagu) (1968)
• Saloma (Entah Di Mana) (1969)
• Saloma (Chinchin Ku Ini) (1970)
• Saloma (Jangan Chemburu) (1971)
• Saloma (Aslirama) (1972)

Saloma's Films

Here are some memorable films Saloma acted in:

Saloma's Later Years and Passing

After her husband, P. Ramlee, passed away in 1973, Saloma became very sad and unwell. This led to her suffering from several illnesses, which made her look thin and sick. She was admitted to Assunta Hospital in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Saloma passed away on April 25, 1983, at the age of 48. Her death was caused by liver failure linked to jaundice. She was buried at the Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur, next to the graves of her ex-husband Aman Ramlie and her husband P. Ramlee.

Saloma's gravesite at Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur

Saloma's Lasting Impact

In 1978, the Malaysian government honored Saloma with the Biduanita Negara (National Songbird) award. So far, only one other singer, Sharifah Aini, has received this same honor.

The Saloma Bistro and Theatre Restaurant in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, opened in 2003. It was named after Saloma to celebrate her contributions to Malaysia's entertainment world. Also, the Saloma Link, a pedestrian bridge near her grave, is named after her.

During her most famous years, Saloma was sometimes called the 'Marilyn Monroe of Asia'. This was because she attracted many fans, much like the Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe.

In 2014, a two-part film about her life was made: Saloma Part 1: Mencuri Guruh and Saloma Part 2: Pandang Kaseh. The actress Nabila Huda played Saloma in the film.

Saloma was celebrated with a Google Doodle on November 26, 2020. This doodle appeared in Malaysia and led to many discussions online about her true nationality when she passed away.

Saloma Bistro and Theatre Restaurant, named after Saloma in honor of her contribution to the entertainment industry of Malaysia.

See also

In Spanish: Salmah Ismail para niños